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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about how to do common tasks in Microsoft Excel.

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Excel "How to" FAQs

List of Excel "How to" FAQs with links to their answers.

Data entry: How to...		Formulas for sum, count, lookup, last entry: How to...		Worksheets and workbooks: How to...
	...identify duplicate entries in a range?		...return the last number and its cell address?		...display the worksheet tab name in a cell?
	...prevent duplicate entries in a range?		...return the last text and its cell address?		...display the workbook name in a cell?
	...delete duplicate entries in a range?		...return the last any type entry and its cell address?		...display the workbook path in a cell?
	...force letters to be UPPER CASE?		...return a table's intersecting row & column value?		...display the workbook path and name in a cell?
	...limit how many characters can be entered?		...return the second highest or lowest number?		...display the workbook path, name, sheet in a cell?
	...establish the "carriage return" affect in a cell?		...average without zeros?		...name a worksheet tab based on a cell value?
	...fill empty cells in a column with value from above?		...sum, average, or count colored cells?		...change column headers from numbers to letters?
	...stop Excel from converting an entry into a date?		...sum, average, or count to omit Min or Max?		...verify if a certain worksheet exists; create if not?
	...automatically insert colon : when entering a time?		...sum, average, or count across multiple sheets?		...verify if a certain workbook exists?
	...enter a number with a visible leading zero?		...sum, average, or count visible or unfiltered cells?		...verify if a certain workbook is open?
			...sum, average, or count with multiple conditions?		...add more rows or columns to my worksheet?
Data manipulation, extraction, parsing: How to...			...avoid #DIV/0!, #N/A, and other formula errors?		...know how many sheets my workbook can hold?
	...separate alphanumeric numbers and letters?		...use VLOOKUP to return value in column to left?		...sort sheets by tab name in alphanumeric order?
	...separate first and last names into their own cell?				...open a workbook to a certain sheet and cell?
	...extract all to the left of a certain character?	Programming Visual Basic for Applications: How to...			...prevent workbook being renamed or distributed?
	...extract all to the right of a certain character?		...create, install, and run a macro?		...save or export my workbook as an .exe file?
	...move negative sign from back to front of number?		...create, install, and utilize a User Defined Function?		...keep rows or columns visible when scrolling?
	...sort a list by more than three column fields?		...create, install, and utilize Event code?		...make a drop-down list for users to select sheets?
	...convert numeric values to their equivalent words?		...create, install, and utilize Class Module code?		...know when the workbook was created?
	...add or subtract a day, month, or year of a date?		...force another computer to enable my macros?		...know when the workbook was modified or saved?
	...delete rows where empty cells exist in a column?		...stop the screen movements while macros run?		...open all workbooks, modify them, then close all?
	...delete hyperlinks but keep their underlying text?		...close a workbook without the prompt to save it?		...recover or undo a worksheet I wrongly deleted?
			...delete a sheet without the prompt to confirm it?		...make a workbook expire by deleting itself?
Data Validation: How to...			...save as existing name without prompt to confirm?		...convert each worksheet into its own workbook?
	...make the cell's drop-down arrow always visible?		...deal with a Macro warning when no macros exist?
	...type the first letter to select that part of the list?		...create a Message Box timed to click OK by itself?	XL Zone: Assorted questions...
	...adjust the drop-down list's size, width, or font?		...establish a "carriage return" line in my MsgBox?		Why Excel asks to save when nothing changed?
	...have more than 8 visible drop down list items?		...display a progress bar while my macro runs?		Why Excel asks to update links but there are none?
	...have one list dependent on another list?		...copy to or go to the next available row or column?		Why the 'Too many different cell formats' message?
			...locate the first empty cell in a row or column?		How do I make the Reviewing Toolbar go away?
Format: How to...			...know the last row for one or more columns?		*How do I find wildcard characters "?" and "" ?**
	...conditionally format for more than 3 conditions?		...know the last column for one or more rows?		How do I keep a button always visible on the sheet?
	...colorize the active cell, row, or column?		...know the address of the sheet's used range?		How do I autoclose a workbook after inactivity?
	...format a date when concatenating it with text?		...know the address of the sheet's data range?		How can I put a running clock on my spreadsheet?
	...make a font invisible so a cell's value is not seen?		...select a range of unknown size or location?		How do I ask for input of an unambiguous date?
	...make a cell's value flash or blink to get attention?		...fill a formula down to the last used row?		How do I customize the buttons on a Message Box?
	...format a formula's returned value characters?		...find multiple entries of the same value in a range?		How do I show a MsgBox in a corner, not centered?
	...format the sum of times for hours and minutes?		...get the user name of the computer or network?		What can I do to learn more about Excel and VBA?

How to identify duplicate entries in a range?

Example

Identify duplicate entries

In the example, Conditional Formatting is applied to range A2:A12.
Select range A2:A12 and then...

In Excel version 2003 or before, from the worksheet menu:
Format > Conditional Formatting
From the drop down arrow list, select "Formula is".
In the formula field, enter:
=COUNTIF($A$2:$A$12,A2)>1
Click the Format button, click the Patterns tab, and select a color from the palette.
Click OK, then OK again.

In Excel version 2007, from the Ribbon, click the Home tab in the Styles section:
Conditional Formatting > New Rule > Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
In the field below "Format values where this formula is true", enter
=COUNTIF($A$2:$A$12,A2)>1
Click the Format button, click the Fill tab, and select a color from the palette.
Click OK, then OK again.

Note the formula's absolute and relative references. Also, version 2007 includes a number of common Conditional Formating circumstances in the Highlight Cell Rules flyout menu, "Duplicate Values" being among them. This example happens to use duplicate identification to illustrate how to access 2007's equivalent of 2003's "Formula Is" field.

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